Five Ways To Ruin Your Lawn And How To Prevent It

The obsession that one can develop for maintaining the “perfect lawn” can be quite stressful. It is extremely difficult to maintain a spotless and perfectly constructed lawn, not only because of the time commitment in doing so, but because of the variety of factors beyond human control that influence lawns across the country. Keeping one’s lawn intact is not an exact science. The health of each lawn depends greatly on the climate, area and the elements surrounding one’s home. Nonetheless, regardless of where you live, there are certain universal principles that must be adhered to, in order for you to prevent the destruction of your lawn. With that in mind, here are five typical ways that people ruin their lawns, along with some tips about how to avoid ruining your lawn:

Watering incorrectly: Most people have heard that lawns typically need about an inch of water per week. While this may suffice for a lawn in good weather conditions, it isn’t enough when the weather begins to get hotter. Just think of what happens to you, when it is really hot out. You start to sweat and, thus, need more water to replace what you are losing. It’s a similar situation with the grass on your lawn. When the weather is hotter, the water evaporates quicker and more water is needed to replace what the grass loses. Get a water gauge to see how much water your lawn needs in a given week.

Not giving your lawn proper airflow: Like all living things, the grass and the productive microorganisms in your lawn need proper airflow. As your lawn grows, it develops a layer of organic material called thatch. Thatch is not necessarily a bad thing, but if it becomes too thick, it can affect the airflow and drainage in your lawn. You can solve this problem by aerating your lawn. A well aerated lawn provides oxygen, water and nutrients that reach all the way to the roots of the grass, where they are needed. This core aeration is exactly what you need, to ensure that your lawn is receiving proper airflow. The cost of lawn aeration is typically not very much and will help immensely.

Failing to get rid of harmful bugs: While aerating your lawn will help preserve the right types of organisms in your lawn, harmful bugs can ruin your lawn, and you need to do what you can, within reason, to get rid of them. While many people use fertilizer with strong insecticide, it is not necessary to go for the hard stuff right away. An organic fertilizer that is low nitrogen can be combined with the right type of pest control products, for a safer and more effective way of getting rid of the particular bugs that can harm your lawn.

Letting weeds take control: Long, invasive weeds can ruin the appearance of your lawn. To keep weeds out, you need to pay attention to the soil compaction in your lawn, as well as the surrounding driveways and walkways, to attack the source of the weeds. You also can investigate and find a product to spray on your lawn that will solve your weed problems and stop them from reoccurring.

Buying the wrong grass: Don’t just buy any grass -- buy the right type of grass for your climate and area. Also, consider how many people will be setting foot on your lawn. If a lot of people visit, you may want to get a sturdier grass.